Sew Easy

When I’m not writing, I love to sew clothes for my girls. And when I’m not sewing pretty skirts, I like to sew pictures. And the pictures I like to sew are red work embroideries.

A few years ago, I discovered a couple of embroidery books by Wendy Brigg: Sew Red and Simply Red. All the patterns use very simple stitches and have been embroidered using red thread. As soon as I saw the books I had to buy them and then as soon as I arrived home, I had to start stitching. I couldn’t wait to create.

I chose a pattern, taped a photocopy of it to a well-lit window and traced the design onto a piece of calico. Soon the fabric was captured between the two rings of my embroidery hoop and I was stitching away.

My girls soon appeared and stood watching me for a while before saying, “Do you think we could embroider too?”

“I don’t see why not,” I replied. And soon we had a little sewing circle, creating red pictures on unbleached calico fabric. Another family passion had been born.

When our embroideries were finished, we washed them in warm soapy water to remove any pencil marks.

Then it was time to tea dye them. We used one tea bag to each cup of boiling water, in a non-metal bowl. The tea bags were allowed to soak for about ten minutes before being removed. Then the fabric was added. After half an hour in the dye (with frequent stirring), the embroideries were rinsed in cold water and hung on the line to dry. Next they were ironed carefully before framing.

We have framed some stitcheries under glass. Others, we have displayed in glassless frames, after adding a layer of craft wadding. We sometimes display our pieces of work a third way: We cut three identical sized pieces of fabric: the embroidery, a backing piece of tea dyed calico and a piece of wadding. All pieces are sewn together around the edges, leaving a small opening to turn the embroidery the right side out. After ironing, it can be hung from a fancy hanger, similar to hanging a small quilt.

Red work embroidery is sew easy. All our girls have learnt to sew while embroidering. As soon as they understand how to keep returning the needle back and forth through the fabric, they can try red work. It is very satisfying because the end result is very impressive despite the easy stitches.

I think my girls were all about 5 when they first started red working. Most of their embroideries have been given away as gifts but here’s several they gave to me:

I have lost count of the number of embroideries I have worked. Most of mine have been given away too. Here’s one I gave away and then regained.

I embroidered this one for my grandmother for her 90th birthday. I actually took bits and pieces of several designs and put them together to make my own unique picture, adding my grandmother’s name and birth date. I have embroidered similar pieces using a different central picture, for other members of family and friends. A photocopier can be used to change the size of a design. It helps to buy the frame first and then adjust the size of the design to fit.

How did I regain this picture? After my grandmother died, my mother came across my embroidery when she was sorting out her possessions. She asked me if I’d like to have it back. So my picture travelled all the way across the world to England and then came back to me. Now it sits in my lounge where it reminds me of the grandmother who shares my birthday and my daughter’s name.

Bronwyn Hayes is another embroiderer who has produced some very attractive designs. I bought her books Flowerbed, Tea and Friends and Flower Patch. All the photographs in the books show the designs worked in different coloured threads. However, I decided to stick to my red thread. It looks effective and I find it relaxing, sewing without worrying about when I should change colour. Bronwyn Hayes gives instructions on how to incorporate her designs into quilts and bags, table runners and gift tags… But we still prefer to frame the embroideries we work from her patterns.

Two additional useful bits of equipment include a light box and a magnifier. Tracing patterns taped to a window can make arms very tired. And if you’re like me, and losing your near vision, you will appreciate a magnifier. Mine clips to the edge of my hoop. With it I can sew tiny little stitches which look very impressive.

Soon it will be time to think about Christmas. What will we make as gifts this year? No doubt we will hunt through the pattern books and start some embroideries. They make very inexpensive but impressive gifts which never fail to please.

So inspiring. I just love your style of stitching. I have always had a fondness for embroidery and have started to embroider special pieces of my children's artwork.I love the minimalist use of colour here and the children's work is so charming!By the way I've tagged you for a meme 🙂

Leanne, I remember making rag rugs with Brid at camp one year! All the girls enjoyed sewing them together. These embroideries are so simple, maybe Brid will feel inspired to try one of her own. Was that a cross stitch I saw you working on, at the same camp, or a piece of embroidery?

We're not actually embroidering anything at the moment. But looking at these photos I feel like pulling out my work basket and beginning a new project! We are going to start our Christmas gift making soon and we will probably make a framed embroidery or two to give away.

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I’m Sue Elvis. I blog and podcast about unschooling, parenting, and family life.

Welcome! I’m so glad you are here because I want to tell you about something very special: the LOVE and JOY of living an unschooling way of life!

A few facts: I live in NSW, Australia. I have a large family. We’ve been homeschooling/unschooling for over 25 years. My current stories are mostly about my four youngest daughters who are teenagers and young adults. However, there are plenty of stories here about when my children were at the younger stages of their lives.

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